ChFC exam-day guide
ChFC · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring a current, unexpired ID whose name matches your registration exactly (including middle name/initial). If the names differ, contact the provider before test day to correct the record.
Exam appointment confirmation and login credentials
Save the confirmation email, appointment time (note the provider's time zone), and your portal username/password somewhere you can reach without a phone.
Computer that meets the provider's system requirements
Run any system-compatibility check the provider offers several days ahead, and install/update the proctoring or testing software in advance rather than on test morning.
Webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection
Test all three before test day and have a backup plan (mobile hotspot or a second device) in case your primary connection drops.
A private, quiet, well-lit room
Plan to take the exam alone in a room with a closed door, cleared desk, and lighting bright enough for the proctor to see you. Confirm the provider's rules on permitted items in the testing space.
Approved calculator (per provider policy)
Check which calculator models the provider permits for this exam, and practice with that exact model beforehand. Do not assume any calculator is allowed.
Scratch paper or on-screen notepad allowance
Confirm in advance whether physical scratch paper, a whiteboard, or only an on-screen notepad is permitted, and what erasing/showing rules apply.
Phone silenced and put away, out of reach
Most proctoring rules prohibit phone use during the exam, including checking it during a break. Confirm the provider's specific policy on phones and other devices.
A one-page condensed review sheet
Prepare a single sheet of high-yield items (key formulas, planning-process steps, insurance and retirement thresholds you tended to miss) for light reading only in the final 24 hours - it will not be allowed during the exam.
Household briefing
Tell anyone at home your exact exam window and ask them not to knock, call, or enter the room, since interruptions can be flagged by the proctor.
Water, snack, and a bathroom trip before logging in
Handle physical needs beforehand in case breaks are limited or prohibited. Confirm the provider's break policy in advance.
Plan for how you will log results and next steps
Know where results will post and what your options are if you do not pass. Confirm the score-report timing and any retake/waiting-period policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Reconfirm your appointment date, start time, and time zone in the provider portal. Run the full system and equipment check, install any proctoring software, and do one timed practice set under exam-like conditions to rehearse pacing rather than to learn new material.
Stop opening new topics. Cycle through your error log and formula sheet, and drill only the two or three areas where your practice scores were weakest. Cap study sessions so you are not fatigued on test day.
Do a short, light review in the morning and then stop. Pack your ID and any approved materials, clear and clean the testing space, charge devices, confirm login credentials, and set two alarms. Get a full night's sleep - this is the highest-return action available to you.
Identify a backup internet source and a backup device, note the provider's technical-support number or contact channel, and decide in advance how you will handle a disconnect (stay calm, do not panic-refresh, follow proctor instructions).
Eat a normal meal, hydrate, and do only a brief skim of your one-page sheet - no new practice questions. Log in 15–30 minutes early to complete ID verification and any room scan without rushing.
Close every other application and browser tab, silence notifications, put your phone out of reach, and tell household members your window has started.
Work steadily and answer the questions you know. For long or calculation-heavy items, mark and move on rather than burning minutes; every question is worth the same.
Note the total number of questions and minutes allowed (confirm both with the provider) and compute your average seconds per question. Check your pace at the one-third and two-thirds marks and adjust.
Use remaining time on flagged questions. Eliminate clearly wrong choices first, then decide. If the provider does not penalize wrong answers, ensure no question is left blank - confirm the scoring policy rather than assuming it.
If the screen freezes or you lose connection, do not keep clicking. Follow the proctor's or support channel's directions immediately and note the time, since session recovery procedures are provider-specific.
Follow the provider's instructions about when and where your score report appears, and log off only when the proctor confirms the session is closed.
Rules to check
Your name on the registration must match your photo ID. Resolve any discrepancy with the provider before test day, since proctors generally cannot admit a mismatched candidate.
The exam is closed-book: no notes, textbooks, unapproved calculators, smart devices, or unapproved scratch materials in the testing space. Confirm the exact permitted-items list with the provider.
Stay in camera view and within the proctored area for the entire session. Leaving the view, having another person enter the room, or reading aloud may be flagged as a policy violation.
Breaks, if any, follow the provider's rules - including whether the clock keeps running and whether you may leave the camera. Confirm the break policy in advance rather than assuming.
Scoring is set by the provider, and the passing standard may be scaled rather than a simple percentage of correct answers. Confirm the passing score and score-report timing with the provider.
Retake and waiting-period rules are provider-specific and may vary by course. Check the current policy before test day so a poor result does not catch you unprepared.
Cheating, impersonation, or using unauthorized aids can result in score cancellation and disciplinary action under the provider's code of conduct. Treat all proctor instructions as binding.